Weird....or not?

[princesshannahsmom]

So, to make a long story short, I have been looking for a receptionist/secretary for the law office I work in for the last six months. Cannot find someone...(I hesitate to say "qualified") but...qualified!

We went through 3 in a one month time frame (even longer stories).

Anyhow, last night, myself, DH and DD went to the local "mall" and we went in to Hollister. Let me preface this by saying how much I HATE going in that store, the music it TOO loud and the cologne/perfume fragrance in the air makes me SICK! Anyhow, we were being helped by a young lady (a bit older than the normal Hollister employees) who was BY FAR the most professional retail person I have ever dealt with (especially at places like Hollister, Aeropostale and such). Anyhow, she told DH (I stepped out, again, the music and the smell) that she and her DH were transferred here in the Navy, she is a college graduate with a degree in Poly Sci, and was looking to go to law school, when they were more settled (this was all mentioned because DH explained why I had to walk away, and she was agreeing that it wasn't ideal). She said they only moved here a month or so ago and Hollister was the only job she could find and that she was making minimum wage. Well, DH, knowing that I was looking for some help, told her such and told her that although the money wasn't tops, it IS more than minimum wage. He gave her my work number and my attorney's name and told her she should call me. She was VERY appreciative and said she would.

Fast forward to this morning. Phone rings around 9:00, lady on the other end puts me through the Spanish Inquisition about who my attorney is, what he practices, how long he has been practicing, how long he has been in Panama City and even how long I have been working here, how long I have been a Paralegal and how long I have lived here. Finally, after five minutes of being interrogated, I inquired as to how I could help her. Get this....she says, well my daughter said that she got your name, your attorney's name and this number from a young couple last night and that this law firm was possible looking to hire someone. I was like, yes, that is right, that was myself and my husband and I am desparately seeking a professional receptionist/secretary, as I am currently the ONLY person in the office, and that her VERY professional, well educated daughter seemed like a good candidate. She then proceeds to interrogate me more in depth about the job, the hours, the actual duties of the job. Finally, I had it (I was thinking for Pete's sake are you serious?). I said, ma'am, I appreciate your call, however, as you are aware, I am alone here and I am very busy, I must let you go now.

Now, I KNOW that the setting for speaking of an open position (job)was not perfect, but, really, it didn't seem inappropriate to me.

So, the girl called me about an hour later to ask where to fax her resume. I gave her my email instead. I told her I would speak to Mr. Silva (but, really hiring of a receptionist is at my discretion) and didn't say anything else. But honestly, I can't hire this girl now. What if she has to work overtime or something (which is likely), is her mom going to call and give me the Spanish Inquisition again?

I am still reeling over that fact that a grown, married, college graduate's mother called about a job opening. My mother wasn't even calling my employers for any reason when I was a teenager, I can't imagine her calling after I was graduated from college and married!

 

[momof1princess]

lol, i'm sorry, OP, wow, i can't imagine such a thing. i wish i didn't live 4 hours from you. i'm a former legal secretary who quit to be a SAHM 11 years ago, and now i can't find a job to save my life.

 

[LuvLDM]

Yes, very weird.
You were much nicer to the overbearing mother than I would have been.

question...did the girl know her mother called?

 

[princesshannahsmom]

lol, i'm sorry, OP, wow, i can't imagine such a thing. i wish i didn't live 4 hours from you. i'm a former legal secretary who quit to be a SAHM 11 years ago, and now i can't find a job to save my life.

Darn, I wish you were closer too!

 

[princesshannahsmom]

Yes, very weird.
You were much nicer to the overbearing mother than I would have been.

question...did the girl know her mother called?

Okay, just so I am not the ONLY one who thinks this is weird!

It didn't SOUND like the girl knew that her mother called, but I didn't ask either. I wonder if I owe her the courtesy of a call back to explain the reason for not hiring her is her mother?

 

[LuvLDM]

Okay, just so I am not the ONLY one who thinks this is weird!

It didn't SOUND like the girl knew that her mother called, but I didn't ask either. I wonder if I owe her the courtesy of a call back to explain the reason for not hiring her is her mother?

I think I might give her a call and be perfectly honest w/ her....tell her that she is an adult and her mother calling perspective employers on her behalf looks really, really bad.

 

[phorsenuf]

All I can picture is when Marie Barone called the FBI when Robert was going to interview. So funny.

yes, it's very odd, I could hear the blades from here.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Okay, just so I am not the ONLY one who thinks this is weird!

It didn't SOUND like the girl knew that her mother called, but I didn't ask either. I wonder if I owe her the courtesy of a call back to explain the reason for not hiring her is her mother?

I wouldn't say you owe it to her, but I think it would be nice to do. She may have NO IDEA that her mother is sabotaging her like this and if someone alerts her she can be sure to keep mom out of the loop from now on.

 

[princesshannahsmom]

I think I might give her a call and be perfectly honest w/ her....tell her that she is an adult and her mother calling perspective employers on her behalf looks really, really bad.

Yes, I think you may be right. This way, if she does know her mother calls, she will see how very unprofessional it is to have her mother call for her (learning experience). And, if she doesn't know, she can have a chat with her mother!

 

[ilovepcot]

Okay, just so I am not the ONLY one who thinks this is weird!

It didn't SOUND like the girl knew that her mother called, but I didn't ask either. I wonder if I owe her the courtesy of a call back to explain the reason for not hiring her is her mother?

That poor girl! Don't know how you'd go about informing her of her mother's actions without possibly being accused of discrimination toward her. (You're in the area of law and would surely know how to skirt a potential problem here! ) But yes, this could happen over and over for her if she's not aware of her mother's meddling. Awful!

 

[princesshannahsmom]

I could hear the blades from here.

That is EXACTLY what I told my DH!! THAT is a PRIME example of a helicopter parent!

 

[princesshannahsmom]

I wouldn't say you owe it to her, but I think it would be nice to do. She may have NO IDEA that her mother is sabotaging her like this and if someone alerts her she can be sure to keep mom out of the loop from now on.

Yes, that is what I was thinking. In case she doesn't know, it might clue her in to be a little less talkative with her mama!

 

[phorsenuf]

That poor girl! Don't know how you'd go about informing her of her mother's actions without possibly being accused of discrimination toward her. (You're in the area of law and would surely know how to skirt a potential problem here! ) But yes, this could happen over and over for her if she's not aware of her mother's meddling. Awful!

Discriminating how? The law office has a right to not hire a person if they feel her working there could cause a disruption, which certainly could happen with a mother like that.

 

[princesshannahsmom]

That poor girl! Don't know how you'd go about informing her of her mother's actions without possibly being accused of discrimination toward her. (You're in the area of law and would surely know how to skirt a potential problem here! ) But yes, this could happen over and over for her if she's not aware of her mother's meddling. Awful!

Yeah, I didn't think of that factor. I will have to do a little research, but I don't THINK this would qualify as a discrimination. Thanks for that little reminder!! But yes, I feel really sorry for the girl, whether she knows her mother called or not.

 

[princesshannahsmom]

Discriminating how? The law office has a right to not hire a person if they feel her working there could cause a disruption, which certainly could happen with a mother like that.

Yeah, that is sort of how I was thinking of it. It would be an awful disruption to the day, if her mother called her (or me) constantly!

 

[ilovepcot]

Discriminating how? The law office has a right to not hire a person if they feel her working there could cause a disruption, which certainly could happen with a mother like that.

Agree totally. It would have never dawned on me that discrimination could enter into this UNTIL being on the DIS for nearly 7 years. If the girl felt she was qualified for the position and wasn't being hired ONLY because of her mother's actions, I could see her mother unraveling over this and screaming to the high heavens that her "qualified daughter" is being discriminated against *only because of a phone call* she made in the best interest of her daughter. That surely would be the mother's "take" on it.

 

[tvguy]

Well, we have 5 positions open, and have for 6 months. Given how high unemployment rate is, we haven't had a lot of applications, and then when find someone who fits strange things happen. They decline the offer, and in some cases just vaporize, never call back to even saw no thanks.
We have a couple of theories.
1) No matter how little unemployment pays, a lot of folks don't want to move to get a job.

2) Some unemployed folks have no intention of taking a job, they just need to show the unemployment people that they are looking for a job.

3) We have consolidated what used to be 2 specialities into 1, and we're finding we're one of the few companies that have merged jobs this way.....so all our applicants have experience in one portion of what we want, but none in the other. Other companies have consolidated jobs, just not in the way we have. Heck, my neighbor has been unemployed for a year, he does insulation, and only insulation. He's finding builders no longer one person to do framing, a second to do insulation, and a third to do sheetrock, they hire 1 person to do all three jobs.

 

[princesshannahsmom]

Agree totally. It would have never dawned on me that discrimination could enter into this UNTIL being on the DIS for nearly 7 years. If the girl felt she was qualified for the position and wasn't being hired ONLY because of her mother's actions, I could see her mother unraveling over this and screaming to the high heavens that her "qualified daughter" is being discriminated against *only because of a phone call* she made in the best interest of her daughter. That surely would be the mother's "take" on it.

Yes, after this morning's conversation, I can totally see that! I really don't think she would have a dog in the fight, but you never know!

 

[princesshannahsmom]

Well, we have 5 positions open, and have for 6 months. Given how high unemployment rate is, we haven't had a lot of applications, and then when find someone who fits strange things happen. They decline the offer, and in some cases just vaporize, never call back to even saw no thanks.
We have a couple of theories.
1) No matter how little unemployment pays, a lot of folks don't want to move to get a job.

2) Some unemployed folks have no intention of taking a job, they just need to show the unemployment people that they are looking for a job.

3) We have consolidated what used to be 2 specialities into 1, and we're finding we're one of the few companies that have merged jobs this way.....so all our applicants have experience in one portion of what we want, but none in the other. Other companies have consolidated jobs, just not in the way we have. Heck, my neighbor has been unemployed for a year, he does insulation, and only insulation. He's finding builders no longer one person to do framing, a second to do insulation, and a third to do sheetrock, they hire 1 person to do all three jobs.

One of the THREE I mentioned, actually TOLD me that she would be making less working here than she does on unemployment, so she couldn't take the job. This was on the morning of her first day, after she asked exactly how many hours she would be working (37.5). I told her when I offered the position that the hours were 8:30-5:00 M-F with a one hour lunch. I was flabbergasted.

One of the others quit after three days, she said she was quote "bored" and didn't realize she wouldn't be doing much. It was her THIRD day for crying out loud, and I AM A BUSY LADY! I was TRYING to give her more things to do, but I have to teach you first and I just didn't have the time... right then. Again, flabbergasted!

Finally, one girl ran an errand to the Courthouse (we covered the errand running, in the interview and the job offer conversation), she NEVER came back. Her mother called about noon (she had left at 9) to tell her that her son was sick, but not to worry as she had picked him up. When I told her mom she left for an errand and we hadn't seen her, she didn't even know what to say! Again, you guessed it, flabbergasted.

I mean in this God forsaken economy, you should take a job that is offered you (in MOST cases), especially if you have been on unemployment, it WON'T last forever. And being bored, for goodness sake, at least you are making money, read some of the legal books in the office (we have Legal Secretary training manuals), you can find something to keep you busy. And just walking away (during an errand) and never returning. I just don't even know what to say to that one!

 

[NewCrew42]

So, to make a long story short, I have been looking for a receptionist/secretary for the law office I work in for the last six months. Cannot find someone...(I hesitate to say "qualified") but...qualified!

We went through 3 in a one month time frame (even longer stories).

Anyhow, last night, myself, DH and DD went to the local "mall" and we went in to Hollister. Let me preface this by saying how much I HATE going in that store, the music it TOO loud and the cologne/perfume fragrance in the air makes me SICK! Anyhow, we were being helped by a young lady (a bit older than the normal Hollister employees) who was BY FAR the most professional retail person I have ever dealt with (especially at places like Hollister, Aeropostale and such). Anyhow, she told DH (I stepped out, again, the music and the smell) that she and her DH were transferred here in the Navy, she is a college graduate with a degree in Poly Sci, and was looking to go to law school, when they were more settled (this was all mentioned because DH explained why I had to walk away, and she was agreeing that it wasn't ideal). She said they only moved here a month or so ago and Hollister was the only job she could find and that she was making minimum wage. Well, DH, knowing that I was looking for some help, told her such and told her that although the money wasn't tops, it IS more than minimum wage. He gave her my work number and my attorney's name and told her she should call me. She was VERY appreciative and said she would.

Fast forward to this morning. Phone rings around 9:00, lady on the other end puts me through the Spanish Inquisition about who my attorney is, what he practices, how long he has been practicing, how long he has been in Panama City and even how long I have been working here, how long I have been a Paralegal and how long I have lived here. Finally, after five minutes of being interrogated, I inquired as to how I could help her. Get this....she says, well my daughter said that she got your name, your attorney's name and this number from a young couple last night and that this law firm was possible looking to hire someone. I was like, yes, that is right, that was myself and my husband and I am desparately seeking a professional receptionist/secretary, as I am currently the ONLY person in the office, and that her VERY professional, well educated daughter seemed like a good candidate. She then proceeds to interrogate me more in depth about the job, the hours, the actual duties of the job. Finally, I had it (I was thinking for Pete's sake are you serious?). I said, ma'am, I appreciate your call, however, as you are aware, I am alone here and I am very busy, I must let you go now.

Now, I KNOW that the setting for speaking of an open position (job)was not perfect, but, really, it didn't seem inappropriate to me.

So, the girl called me about an hour later to ask where to fax her resume. I gave her my email instead. I told her I would speak to Mr. Silva (but, really hiring of a receptionist is at my discretion) and didn't say anything else. But honestly, I can't hire this girl now. What if she has to work overtime or something (which is likely), is her mom going to call and give me the Spanish Inquisition again?

I am still reeling over that fact that a grown, married, college graduate's mother called about a job opening. My mother wasn't even calling my employers for any reason when I was a teenager, I can't imagine her calling after I was graduated from college and married!

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the girl became nervous about calling. She is new to the area, maybe her DH is deployed, perhaps she wasn't sure if it was a "real" job opportunity or if Ted Bundy just gave her his number.

Just trying to add another perspective.